Why does Plex only play my content at SD for friends outside of my network?

Plex Media Server Remote Access
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How can I stop Plex converting all my content to SD for my friends to view it. I would like them to view original quality as I have a powerful server running on a NAS. I use MKV files and most of my movies are 1080p

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I have the same issue… you need to ask each member to go into setting and change the REMOTE STREAMING to MAXIMUM.
Also disable (in the same menu) the Automatically Adjust Quality
(Menu is different for every device… but check from time to time in the Plex Activity log and see if they are all on Direct Stream or Direct Play. If not call them and tell them to do it…

I DONT recommend to go to the Plex server and “Disable video stream transcoding” (settings>transcoder)
In some cases if you have a HEVC or 265 file format, some older TV’s cant play it therefor they will transcode them… it these cases its very helpful to have it on.

Also noticed it was doing the same with AUDIO so on some devices to go into menu and just make sure all AUDIO setting are the same (play original…etc) You will also notice now that if they have surround sound and you ripped the file at 7.1 surround… that now it will play it correctly.

Hope it helps.

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Hi!

Thanks so much for your help, I really appreciate it. There seems to be a lot of ways to do it according to Google so I’m glad I came here to get a solution.

Tom :slight_smile:

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Hi… just tried to do this on a FaceTime. Just a quick question, where can I find these settings? The rest of my family aren’t exactly computer geniuses LOL

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Honestly same with my family… Have to explain them something I can’t see…

To be frank the answer is different on every app… LG TVs… Samsung…mobile app… All different… But in the settings menu… Which is also in different places… They just need to find the quality section.

Otherwise Google “Plex settings Samsung TV”

Hope it helps.

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Do you have your server set to limit remote bandwidth? It would also depend on what your actual upload speed is. If you have a limited upload speed your remote users might experience a lot of buffering if they’re playing something at it’s original bitrate.

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Hi guys,
Problem all sorted now. I couldn’t go ahead with streaming at maximum quality due to my family not all having good internet- the frequent pausing was a big problem - but I managed to get the quality up to 1080p Medium. Better than 720p atleast.
Thanks for all your help.

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